Hair debris screen

ABSTRACT

A hairbrush and cleaning adjunct therefor may be used for human hair or animal hair grooming. The cleaning adjunct comprises a screen which functions to prevent grooming debris (loose hair, dirt, flaking skin) from being deposited on the undersurface of the hairbrush. The screen is fabricated from a soft, pliable, washable mesh material (preferably nylon or the like). The screen may consist of a single sheet or several sheets disposed on the undersurface of the brush. The use of nylon or like mesh material allows an electrostatic charge to build on the screen&#39;s surface whereby debris is attracted to and held on the surface. When debris accumulates, the screen is simply removed for disposal or for washing and recycling as desired. Botanical or medicinal agents are applied to the screen to enhance the grooming process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to grooming devices. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to a hairbrush and a protective screen therefor.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] The hairbrush is an essential grooming device for both humans and animals (dogs, cats, horses, etc.). During the grooming process, it is normal that debris (loose hair, dirt, flaking skin, etc.) will be trapped within the bristles of the brush. At some time, the accumulation of debris will require that the brush be cleaned. Removing the amassed debris from the brush can be a relatively long and arduous task. Providing an efficient brush adjunct to remove such debris, which adjunct also contributes to the grooming process, would certainly be a welcome addition to the art.

[0005] The prior art is rife with devices for enhancing the cleaning process for hairbrushes. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,529,927 (Fisk), 4,517,703 (Koke), 5,519,912 (Kawamura) , 5,600,865 (Morrison) and British Patent numbered 794,594 disclose a cleaning device comprising a plate positioned on the undersurface of the brush head. The bristles of the brush extend through plural holes in the plate. The plate functions to slide along and clean the bristles. The plate is rigid and may prove uncomfortable to the groomee. The patentees do not contemplate providing a grooming agent to the plate.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 2,553,242 (Dombitsky) shows a cleaning attachment for a hairbrush, which attachment comprises a sock-like member fabricated from mesh material. The sock-like member is adapted to be pierced by the bristles of the hairbrush and encompass the hairbrush. No provision is made to provide a grooming agent to the sock-like member.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,542 (Norman) is drawn to a self-cleaning brush having plural cleaning sheets mounted to the brush. The sheets are apertured to receive the bristles of the brush. When it is desired to clean the brush, the uppermost sheet is grasped and pulled outwardly from the brush, thereby removing debris from the bristles. The patentee does not contemplates providing a grooming agent to the sheets.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,362 (Parko et al) discloses a brush combined with a flexible netting, which netting is pulled down to a position at the base of the brush bristles. The netting requires an elastic periphery to hold the netting to the brush. No grooming agent is applied to the netting.

[0009] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to disclose a combination hairbrush and brush cleaning adjunct as will subsequently be described and claimed in the instant invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention is drawn to a hairbrush and cleaning adjunct therefor. The invention may be used for human hair (hair piece or wig) or animal hair grooming. The cleaning adjunct comprises a screen which functions to prevent grooming debris (loose hair, dirt, flaking skin) from being deposited on the undersurface of the hairbrush. The screen is fabricated from a soft, pliable, washable mesh material (preferably nylon or the like). The screen may consist of a single sheet or several sheets disposed on the undersurface of the brush. The use of nylon or like mesh material allows an electrostatic charge to build on the screen's surface whereby debris is attracted to and held on the surface. When debris accumulates, the screen is simply removed for disposal or for washing and recycling as desired. Botanical or medicinal agents are impregnated in the screen and are adapted to be slowly released during brushing, thereby enhancing the grooming process.

[0011] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a hairbrush having a cleaning adjunct therefor.

[0012] It is another object of the invention to provide a hairbrush having a cleaning adjunct which prevents the deposit of debris on the undersurface of the hair brush.

[0013] It is a further object of the invention to provide a hairbrush having a cleaning adjunct, which adjunct is removably attached to said hairbrush.

[0014] Still another object of the invention is to provide a hairbrush having a cleaning adjunct, which adjunct may be cleaned and recycled.

[0015] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes.

[0016] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 is a side view of a hairbrush and hair debris screen according to the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hairbrush and hair debris screen according to the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 3 is a plan view of a hair debris screen according to the present invention.

[0020] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the instant invention comprises a hairbrush generally indicated at 10 having a handle 12 and a head 14. Plural bristles 16 extend vertically from the undersurface 14 a of head 14. A cleaning adjunct 20 is positioned on the undersurface 14 a of the hairbrush. As noted above, cleaning adjunct 20 may consist of a single sheet or plural, layered removable sheets.

[0022] As best seen in FIG. 3, adjunct 20 is of a rectangular configuration having truncated corners. As contemplated adjunct 20 is approximately two and one-half inches wide and three and one-half inches long. To prevent the adjunct from raveling and/or curling, a reinforcement border 20 a, approximately one-eighth of an inch wide, is extended completely around the perimeter of adjunct 20. Border 20 a may be formed by stitching or the like. Adjunct 20 is fabricated from mesh material which is naturally provided with small pores or apertures. As illustrated, the apertures are exaggerated for effect. Slow release botanical or medicinal essences are impregnated in adjunct 20 to enhance the grooming process.

[0023] In use, adjunct 20 is placed on bristles 16. Downward pressure will cause the bristles to penetrate the pores of adjunct 20. Downward pressure is continued until adjunct 20 is positioned adjacent hairbrush undersurface 14 a. During the grooming process, debris D will accumulate on the surface of adjunct 20. Upon accumulation of a sufficient amount of debris thereon, adjunct 20 may easily be removed for disposal or cleaning.

[0024] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A grooming implement comprising: a hairbrush, said hairbrush having an undersurface; an array of bristles, said array of bristles having first ends attached to said undersurface, said array of bristles extending perpendicularly from said undersurface and terminating in free second ends; a cleaning adjunct, said cleaning adjunct being penetrated by said array of bristles and positioned adjacent said undersurface, said cleaning adjunct having at least one grooming essence impregnated therein.
 2. A grooming implement as recited in claim 1, wherein said cleaning adjunct is a soft, pliable member fabricated from a mesh material.
 3. A grooming implement as recited in claim 2, wherein said mesh material is nylon.
 4. A grooming implement as recited in claim 3, wherein said cleaning adjunct is of rectangular configuration having a reinforced perimeter.
 5. A grooming implement as recited in claim 4, wherein said at least one grooming essence is a botanical essence.
 6. A grooming implement as recited in claim 4, wherein said at least one grooming essence is a medicinal essence.
 7. A grooming implement comprising: a hairbrush, said hairbrush having an undersurface; an array of bristles, said array of bristles having first ends attached to said undersurface, said array of bristles extending perpendicularly from said undersurface and terminating in free second ends; a plurality of cleaning adjuncts positioned adjacent said undersurface, said plurality of cleaning adjuncts being arranged in a stacked array and penetrated by said array of bristles, said plurality of cleaning adjuncts having at least one grooming essence impregnated therein.
 8. A grooming implement as recited in claim 7, wherein each said plurality of cleaning adjuncts is a soft, pliable member fabricated from a mesh material.
 9. A grooming implement as recited in claim 8, wherein said mesh material is nylon.
 10. A grooming implement as recited in claim 9, wherein each said plurality of cleaning adjuncts is of rectangular configuration having a length of approximately three and one-half inches, a width of approximately two and one half inches and a reinforced perimeter.
 11. A grooming implement as recited in claim 10, wherein said at least one grooming essence is a botanical essence.
 12. A grooming implement as recited in claim 10, wherein said at least one grooming essence is a medicinal essence. 